The Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS) is the second most senior member of the Canadian Forces

Canadian Forces

The Canadian Forces , officially the Canadian Armed Forces , are the unified armed forces of Canada, as constituted by the National Defence Act, which states: "The Canadian Forces are the armed forces of Her Majesty raised by Canada and consist of one Service called the Canadian Armed Forces."...

, and heads the Armed Forces Council

Armed Forces Council (Canada)

The Armed Forces Council is the senior military body of the Canadian Forces. It meets to advise the Chief of the Defence Staff on matters concerning the command, control and administration of the Canadian Forces as well as to help the CDS make decisions regarding these matters.The Armed Forces...

, having primary responsibility for command, control, and administration of the forces, as well as military strategy, plans, and requirements. The position is held by a senior member of one of the three main branches of the Canadian Forces.

Rank and command

The Chief of the Defence Staff follows in rank only the Commander-in-Chief of the Canadian Forces, who appoints the CDS and is the person from whom the CDS receives his or her orders. In practice, though, the commander-in-chief the Canadian monarch, represented by the governor general

Governor General of Canada

The Governor General of Canada is the federal viceregal representative of the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II...

typically acts only on the advice

Advice (constitutional)

Advice, in constitutional law, is formal, usually binding, instruction given by one constitutional officer of state to another. Especially in parliamentary systems of government, Heads of state often act on the basis of advice issued by prime ministers or other government ministers...

 of his or her ministers of the Crown

Minister of the Crown

Minister of the Crown is the formal constitutional term used in the Commonwealth realms to describe a minister to the reigning sovereign. The term indicates that the minister serves at His/Her Majesty's pleasure, and advises the monarch, or viceroy, on how to exercise the Crown prerogatives...

, meaning the CDS normally reports directly to the Minister of National Defence

Minister of National Defence (Canada)

The Minister of National Defence is a Minister of the Crown; the Canadian politician within the Cabinet of Canada responsible for the Department of National Defence which oversees the Canadian Forces....

.

Until 1964 there existed a Chief of the Naval Staff as head of the Royal Canadian Navy, a Chief of the General Staff as head of the Canadian Army, and a Chief of the Air Staff

Chief of the Air Staff (Canada)

The Chief of the Air Staff is the commander and institutional head of the Royal Canadian Air Force...

 as head of the Royal Canadian Air Force. A position known as the Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee existed, which had a loose coordination function, although it lacked the command and control responsibilities of the later position of CDS.

In 1964, the position of Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee and the positions of the three service chiefs were abolished and replaced by the position of CDS. Since that time, the CDS has been charged with four main priorities, each having multiple sub-priorities: The first is to conduct operations, which includes the successful implementation of domestic and international operations, protection of the forces through a culture of risk management, and ensuring that recruitment is at a level required to sustain the operational forces at full potential to meet their commitments. Secondly, the CDS is expected to expand the regular and reserve forces

Canadian Forces Primary Reserve

The Primary Reserve is a reserve force of the Canadian Forces. It is the largest of the four sub-components of the CF reserves; those being the Primary Reserve, the Supplementary Reserve, the Canadian Rangers, and the Cadet Organizations Administration and Training Service .The reserve force is...

 to meet international and domestic obligations, which means the management of the Canadian Forces Recruiting Group so as to streamline the enlistment process of new forces members. The third task is to implement the national defence strategy as outlined by the Queen-in-Council

Queen-in-Council

The Queen-in-Council is, in each of the Commonwealth realms, the technical term of constitutional law that refers to the exercise of executive authority, denoting the monarch acting by and with the advice and consent of his or her privy council or executive council The Queen-in-Council (during...

, requiring both the acquisition of new equipment and the strengthening of diplomatic relations via the United Nations

United Nations

The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...

, North Atlantic Treaty Organization, and North American Aerospace Defence Command." Lastly, the CDS must enhance the forces' programme delivery while optimising the use of resources.

The CDS is also the chair of the Canadian Forces Decorations Advisory Committee, which reviews and recommends to the governor general members of the forces eligible to receive decorations for valour, bravery, and meritorious service, as well as Commander-in-Chief Unit Commendations. This committee mirrors that for the Order of Military Merit

Order of Military Merit (Canada)

The Order of Military Merit is a military honour for merit that is, within the Canadian system of honours, the second highest order administered by the Governor General-in-Council, on behalf of the Queen of Canada...

, of which the CDS is ex-officio a member and the Principal Commander. Separately, the CDS presents the Chief of the Defence Staff Commendation in the form of a gold bar pin that bears three equilaterally spaced maple leaves

Maple leaf

The maple leaf is the characteristic leaf of the maple tree, and is the most widely recognized national symbol of Canada.-Use in Canada:At the beginning of the eighteenth century, the settlements of New France had attained a population of about 18,000...

to recognise deeds or activities beyond the normal demands of duty, as well as the Canadian Forces Medallion for Distinguished Service

Canadian Forces Medallion for Distinguished Service

The Canadian Forces Medallion for Distinguished Service is awarded by the Chief of the Defence Staff in recognition of outstanding service, performed by individuals and groups who are not active members of the Canadian Forces...

, which is given by the CDS on behalf of the entire forces.

Chiefs of the Defence Staff

Name	Rank	Year	Branch	Home Province	Appointed by	Notes
Frank Robert Miller Frank Robert Miller Air Chief Marshal Frank Robert Miller, CC, CBE, CD was a Canadian airman, the last Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff in 1964, the first Chief of the Defence Staff from 1964 until 1966, and Deputy Minister of National Defence.-Military career:Frank Robert Miller was born in Kamloops, British Columbia...	Air Chief Marshal Air Chief Marshal Air chief marshal is a senior 4-star air-officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force...	1964–1966	Royal Canadian Air Force Royal Canadian Air Force The history of the Royal Canadian Air Force begins in 1920, when the air force was created as the Canadian Air Force . In 1924 the CAF was renamed the Royal Canadian Air Force and granted royal sanction by King George V. The RCAF existed as an independent service until 1968...	BC British Columbia British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...	Georges Vanier Georges Vanier Major-General Georges-Philéas Vanier was a Canadian soldier and diplomat who served as Governor General of Canada, the 19th since Canadian Confederation....
Jean-Victor Allard Jean Victor Allard Jean Victor Allard, was the first French-Canadian to become Chief of the Defence Staff, the highest position in the Canadian Forces, from 1966–1969. He was also the first to hold the accompanying rank of general....	General General (Canada) The military rank of General in Canada is typically held by only one officer whose position is Chief of the Defence Staff and the senior uniformed officer of the Canadian Forces. The rank is referred to as 'four-star', despite the use of maple leaves in the insignia. It is the equivalent of the...	1966–1969	Canadian Army	QC Quebec Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....	Georges Vanier
Frederick Ralph Sharp Frederick Ralph Sharp General Frederick Ralph Sharp, CMM, DFC, CD was a Royal Canadian Air Force officer and Chief of Defence Staff of the Canadian Forces.-Education:...	General	1969–1972	Air Command Canadian Forces Air Command The Royal Canadian Air Force , formerly Canadian Forces Air Command, is one of three environmental commands of the Canadian Forces...	SK Saskatchewan Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota....	Roland Michener Roland Michener Daniel Roland Michener , commonly known as Roland Michener, was a Canadian lawyer, politician, and diplomat who served as Governor General of Canada, the 20th since Canadian Confederation....
Jacques Alfred Dextraze Jacques Dextraze General Jacques Alfred Dextraze CC, CMM, CBE, DSO & Bar, KStJ, CD was a Canadian soldier and Chief of the Defence Staff from 1972–1977.-Early life:...	General	1972–1977	Land Force Command Canadian Forces Land Force Command The Canadian Army , previously called Land Force Command, is responsible for army operations within the Canadian Forces. The current size of the Army is 19,500 regular soldiers and 16,000 reserve soldiers, for a total of around 35,500 soldiers...	QC Quebec Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....	Jules Léger Jules Léger Jules Léger was a Canadian diplomat and statesman who served as Governor General of Canada, the 21st since Canadian Confederation....
Robert Hilborn Falls Robert Hilborn Falls Admiral Robert Hilborn Falls, was Chief of Defence Staff of the Canadian Forces from 1977 to 1980.-Military career:...	Admiral Admiral Admiral is the rank, or part of the name of the ranks, of the highest naval officers. It is usually considered a full admiral and above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet . It is usually abbreviated to "Adm" or "ADM"...	1977–1980	Maritime Command Canadian Forces Maritime Command The Royal Canadian Navy , is the naval force of Canada. The RCN is one of three environmental commands within the unified Canadian Forces. Operating 33 warships and several auxiliary vessels, the Royal Canadian Navy consists of 8,500 Regular Force and 5,100 Primary Reserve sailors, supported by...	ON Ontario Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....	Jules Léger
Ramsey Muir Withers Ramsey Muir Withers Ramsey Muir Withers, CMM, CD is the oldest living past Chief of the Defence Staff, the highest ranking position in the Canadian Forces 1980–1983.-Military career:...	General	1980–1983	Land Force Command	ON Ontario Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....	Edward Schreyer Edward Schreyer Edward Richard Schreyer , commonly known as Ed Schreyer, is a Canadian politician, diplomat, and statesman who served as Governor General of Canada, the 22nd since Canadian Confederation....
Gérard Charles Édouard Thériault Gérard Charles Édouard Thériault General Gérard Charles Édouard Thériault, CMM, CD was Chief of the Defence Staff between 1983 and 1986.-Military service:...	General	1983–1986	Air Command	QC Quebec Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....	Edward Schreyer
Paul David Manson Paul David Manson Paul David Manson, OC, CMM, CD is a retired Canadian general, fighter pilot, and businessman.-Education:He graduated from the Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston, Ontario in 1956, student # 3528....	General	1986–1989	Air Command	BC British Columbia British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...	Jeanne Sauvé Jeanne Sauvé Jeanne Mathilde Sauvé was a Canadian journalist, politician, and stateswoman who served as Governor General of Canada, the 23rd since Canadian Confederation....
John de Chastelain John de Chastelain Alfred John Gardyne Drummond de Chastelain is a retired Canadian soldier and diplomat.De Chastelain was born in Romania and educated in England and in Scotland before his family immigrated to Canada in 1954...	General	1989–1993	Land Force Command	AB Alberta Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...	Jeanne Sauvé
John Rogers Anderson John Rogers Anderson John Rogers Anderson, is a Canadian retired Admiral and civil servant.-Military career:Anderson was born in British Columbia and attended University of British Columbia; he graduated with a BSc and attended a Long Operations Officers course. He joined the Navy in 1963 and worked his way up the...	Admiral	1993	Maritime Command	BC British Columbia British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...	Ray Hnatyshyn Ray Hnatyshyn Ramon John Hnatyshyn , commonly known as Ray Hnatyshyn, was a Canadian politician and statesman who served as Governor General of Canada, the 24th since Canadian Confederation....
John de Chastelain	General	1994–1995	Land Force Command	AB Alberta Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...	Ray Hnatyshyn
Joseph Édouard Jean Boyle Jean Boyle General Joseph Édouard Jean Boyle, CMM, CD is a former Canadian Chief of Defence Staff. He resigned in disgrace less than a year after his appointment, when it was revealed that he was involved in "almost every facet" of the attempt to manage the aftermath of the Somalia Affair, including the...	General	1996	Air Command	ON Ontario Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....	Roméo LeBlanc Roméo LeBlanc Roméo-Adrien LeBlanc was a Canadian journalist, politician, and statesman who served as Governor General of Canada, the 25th since Canadian Confederation....
Larry Murray Larry Murray Vice Admiral Larry E. Murray, CMM, CD is a Canadian retired civil servant, retired Vice Admiral and former acting Chief of the Defence Staff.-Military career:...  (Acting)	Vice-Admiral	1996 – 1997	Maritime Command	ON Ontario Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....	Roméo LeBlanc
Maurice Baril Maurice Baril Joseph Gérard Maurice Baril, CMM, MSM, CD is a retired General officer in the Canadian Forces, a Military Advisor to the United Nations Secretary-General & head of the Military Division of the Department of Peacekeeping Operations of the United Nations from 1992 to 1997, and Chief of the Defence...	General	1997–2001	Land Force Command	QC Quebec Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....	Roméo LeBlanc
Raymond Henault	General	2001–2005	Air Command	MB Manitoba Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...	Adrienne Clarkson Adrienne Clarkson Adrienne Louise Clarkson is a Canadian journalist and stateswoman who served as Governor General of Canada, the 26th since Canadian Confederation....
Rick Hillier Rick Hillier General Rick Hillier, CMM, MSC, CD , is the former Chief of the Defence Staff of the Canadian Forces. He held this appointment from February 4, 2005 to July 1, 2008. He retired on July 1, 2008, and was replaced by former Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff Walter Natynczyk...	General	2005–2008	Land Force Command	NL Newfoundland and Labrador Newfoundland and Labrador is the easternmost province of Canada. Situated in the country's Atlantic region, it incorporates the island of Newfoundland and mainland Labrador with a combined area of . As of April 2011, the province's estimated population is 508,400...	Adrienne Clarkson
Walter Natynczyk Walter Natynczyk General Walter J. Natynczyk , CMM, MSC, CD is the Chief of the Defence Staff of the Canadian Forces.-Biography:Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba in 1958, where he grew up with his two sisters, Natynczyk is the son of a Polish father and German mother. He worked as a Winnipeg Free Press paperboy and a...	General	2008–present	Land Force Command/Canadian Army	MB Manitoba Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...	Michaëlle Jean Michaëlle Jean Michaëlle Jean is a Canadian journalist and stateswoman who served as Governor General of Canada, the 27th since Canadian Confederation, from 2005 to 2010....